Marconi Beach and Hiking in the Great Outdoors {digital scrapbook layouts}

Since all of my crafting supplies are packed up, I have been relaying on digital products from JessicaSprague.com to satiate my scrapbooking appetite.  Since I am so new to purely digital scrapbooking, I recently completed this AWESOME class by Jessica Sprague: "Up and Running with Photoshop: Beginning Digital Scrapbooking."

The class is the perfect beginner's primer on how to use Photoshop to create amazing scrapbook pages (just like the real paper ones I love so much without the mess to clean up afterwards).  The class is self-paced so you can take it when your schedules allows for it.  It also comes with some great free digital kits and templates to use over and over again.  If anything, it provides you with a toolbox of skills to fully master and manipulate Photoshop to retell the stories and memories you want to cherish for years to come.


Using the tricks and skills I learned from this class along with some amazing templates and digital products from the Queen of Quirk, here are two of my first digital layouts highlighting a recent trip we took to Cape Cod.  


1.  Marconi Beach {a digital scrapbook layout}.  We took a brief stop by Marconi Beach for Charlotte to build some sand castles.  I swear, that girl could sit on the beach for HOURS just playing in the sand.

Digital Supplies by Queen of Quirk:   (a) Scrap Canvas - Ducks in a Row; (b) Right Round Accent Pack; (c) Right Round Paper Pack; (d) Bare Branches Accent Pack


Digital Supplies by Splendid Fiins:  Sew Crafty - messy stitches vol 1

2.  Hiking in the Great Outdoors {a digital scrapbooking layout}.  I love being outdoors and walking in the woods.  Watching Justin point out the different animals and plants especially warms my heart.  She is 100% a daddy's girl.

Digital Supplies by Queen of Quirk:   (a) Scrap Canvas- Stacked; (b) Country Mouse / City Mouse Collection; (c) Father Time Paper Pack

Digital Supplies by Splendid Fiins:  @ the office supplies 1

Digital Supplies by Echo Park:  Note To Self Element Pack #2

I'm so excited to see how much I can grow as a digital and hybrid scrapper during my term as a JessicaSprague.com Creative Team member!  As always, thanks so much for stopping by!

Month of the Military Child

I have a military child.  Sadly, I did not even realize that April is the Month of the Military Child until I read this touching blog post by Stephanie Howell.  It wasn't long before I was hysterically weeping; it was as if I was reading about my future.


As we prepare to move once again and quickly approach our first deployment with Charlotte, Justin and I are bracing to prepare Charlotte for an onslaught of change - moving cross country, new school, new house, absent dad. 

Last week, our household goods pack out took away Charlotte's polka dot chair, bike, sheets, most of her toys and books.  Each morning, Charlotte and I will have a conversation somewhere along these lines:


Mommy, where my [insert missing item, e.g., polka dot chair]? 


It's going to San Diego, sweetie.  


Then, without even a pause to process any of the information, she begins to sob, collapse onto the floor, and scream:


I DON'T WANT IT!  I DON'T WANT TO GO!  HOUSE, HOUSE, HOUSE!!!


The following words also trigger similar reactions:  airplane, move, new house, California.  Charlotte started having night terrors the night the movers took away the boxes.  If you ask her where Daddy is (when Justin isn't in the room), she'll point to her heart.  


It doesn't seem fair sometimes.  It feels more like a cruel initiation process into the military family.  But regardless of whether or not it's fair, it is our reality.  We do it because we love Daddy.  And Daddy does it because he loves this country.  

Jessica Sprague Creative Team for 2012

I've got some exciting news!!  I was just selected as the newest member of the JessicaSprague.com Creative Team for 2012! 

JessicaSprague.com has THE BEST online digital crafting classes and products out there featuring designers like Echo Park, Cosmo Cricket and Splendid Fiins. 

I am a student of their AMAZING Photoshop class, Photo Editing 1: Good to Great Workflow, which seriously changed my photo editing skills.  SO WORTH THE INVESTMENT.  Their digital products are my go to for any digital or hybrid crafty project.  And I can't wait to learn, create and grow during my term on their Creative Team.

You can check out their official blog announcement here. 

So.  Ridicuously.  Excited!!!!!

Favorite Photos of March 2012

Wohoo!  I'm finally caught up!  Here are my favorite photos from March 2012.  You can see my February and January favorites here and here.

Justin and Charlotte making a race car at the monthly Home Depot Kid's Workshop.  I'm not sure if Justin is tired or frustrated but I find this photo hilarious.  :)

We have had a difficult time potty training.  Charlotte goes through moments of being on board with the whole idea and other moments of complete and utter rejection.  Here she is trying the potty (once again) while reading her book.

Unraveled toilet paper.  Busy bee indeed.

We drove up to Boston to visit one of my dearest friends and her adorable baby boy.  So great catching up! 

Pushing puppy around.

This might be my all time favorite photo.  Justin inadvertently built Charlotte a fort while pulling off her sheets for the wash. She was SO EXCITED!

At the park.  On the swing.  Content.

Trying on her hat first thing in the morning with Daddy.

Aw, my little lounger.  She's probably watching Dora.  :)

Bubbles!!

Justin was pretending to take photos of Charlotte with a block and here she is posing with Puppy and George.  

Coloring is very serious business, especially when you are wearing bunny ears.  This is at the MWR Easter Festival on base.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Gifting Scrapbook Pages

As you know, I love to scrapbook.  With each page I make, it's another memory for our family's album.  It's an intensely personal and intimate exercise to choose the title, journal the memories, and select the perfect photos. So when I decided to make a framed scrapbook page for a friend, it definitely felt outside of my comfort zone. However, with some of Scrapbook Steals fantastic Mid Week Mojo sketches as my guide, I was able to put something together that I'm really proud of.  

1.  Lilly Reese {a scrapbook layout}.

The starting point for this layout was a Mid Week Mojo (Amethyst 5) by Kristy Lee.  

And here are some closeups of the little details.  I personally love the look of some twine wrapped around the photo mat.

I made these 3D flower embellishments using my Silhouette Cameo, some American Crafts brads and Stickles by Ranger.

To finish off the page, I stamped some little hearts along the side and covered them in Stickles.  Lilly is definitely a girl that appreciates some bling.  :)

Supplies:  Echo Park (Patterned Paper, Stickers); American Crafts (Letter Stickers, Brads); Twine by Twinery; Stamps by Paper Smooches; Stickles by Ranger; Silhouette Cameo.

2.  John Joseph {a scrapbook layout}.

For this layout, I started with a Mid Week Mojo Sketch (Amethyst 7) by the talented Kyla Norris.

I placed some train stickers on dimensional stickers along the bottom with stars coming out like steam.  

To incorporate some more fun colors and patterns, I incorporated some paper banner strips behind the title block.  

Supplies:  Echo Park (Patterned Paper, Stickers, Letter Stickers).

And here are both layouts all warm and cozy in their shadow box frames ready to wrap and gift.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!

Take Twelve Project - April 12

It amazes me that April 12 is the last 12th our family will spend in Rhode Island.  So I'm glad that this April 12, much like my January 12, was simply a reflection of my day as a stay-at-home with Charlotte.  Goodness knows that she won't be my rambunctious little toddler for much longer.  (Can someone please stop time for just a little bit, please?)

I based this month's layout on Sketch 9 from the Take Twelve Guided Inspiration Kit.  Actually, I drew a lot of inspiration from the beautiful sample layout by Donna Jannuzzi.

I especially love how clean and simple Donna's layout is with the layered papers behind the photostrips and title.  For my paper strip, I primarily used papers from Authentique Splendid (which I recently purchased from Scrapbook Steals to celebrate completing Project 100). 

Authentique's tiny word stickers were the perfect embellishment to my little corner banner embellishment.  I also scraplifted the idea of incorporating a doily banner from the fabulous Erin Colby. 

And finally, I embellished the little photostrips with some simple flower brads.

Supplies:  Patterened Paper (Authentique, Echo Park, Sassafras); Letter Stickers (American Crafts, Cosmo Cricket); Buttons and Brads (My Mind's Eye, Making Memories); Digital Files (Samantha Walker); Other (Twinery Twine, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Fiskars Border Punch).

Chance to Win!  You have until midnight Wednesday, April 18th, to link your photos to this post on the Ella Publishing Co. blog for a chance to win a Muvazi Skin Care Renewal Set.

Also, please check out the other inspiring Take Twelve Layouts by the rest of the Take Twelve Team!

Elizabeth Dillow

Aliza Deutsch

Margie Scarpignato

Janette Kincaid

Monica Bradford

Jennie McGarvey

Lisa Day

Valerie Bishop

Amy Prior

Stephanie Medley-Rath

Angela Gutshall

Lisa Ottoson

Favorite Photos of February 2012

I am clearly slow on posting these favorite photos but I really want to follow through with this series.  So, here are my favorite photos from February 2012.  (We're playing catch up here so stay tuned for the March photos very soon.)  And click here to see the Favorite Photos of January 2012. 

 

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Newport on Dwellable

Wrapping Up Project 100 {Baby Cards and Crafts}

I started PROJECT 100 back in January as a personal challenge to use up my "stash" by creating 100 different projects before buying any more paper, buttons, stickers, etc.  In retrospect, I made a couple of exceptions to the rules.  When Scrapbook Steals had Silhouette accessories available, I bought the starter kit for fabric (along with all the fabric paint) and rhinestones.  I've purchased some random stamps and stickers (like two $3 stamps and five packs of $1.50 thickers) from TJ Maxx and Marshalls.  But for the most part, I've stuck to the original rules of only buying supplies as needed for specific projects or Vanlikethecar Design orders.  I would give myself a B+ for following the rules. 

It took me almost four months but I am now exceedingly proud to announce that I have successfully completed PROJECT 100!!!!  As of the last blog post, I had five projects left in my countdown.  So here they are (plus one) - all super cute ideas for the little baby in your life.

1.  Baby Bib Cards.  Addie B Designs released three new bibs for their summer collection.  (Make sure to check out their Facebook page for super cute bibs, booties, hair accessories, and everything else adorable and monogrammed for baby!) 

So, new baby bibs means new baby bib cards!  Here are the cards (4) I created inspired by Addie B's adorable bibs.

Supplies:  Patterned Paper (My Mind's Eye); Cardstock (American Crafts); Stamps (Lawn Fawn, Unity Stamps); Brads (Oriental Trading Company); Digital Files (Lettering Delights); Other (Silhouette Cameo, Tim Hotlz Distress Ink, American Crafts Zing Embossing Powder, Versamark Ink, Memento Black Ink).

2.  Painted Baby Onesie.  To go along with this adorable bib I ordered from Addie B Designs...

...I made this hand painted onesie featuring a design from the new Lawn Fawn Critters Ever After collection, my Silhouette Cameo and Silhouette fabric vinyl. 

3.  Button Monogram.  Here is a button monogram I made for a client.  I seriously need to make one for Charlotte - so cute!!

Here is a link to the blog post with another button monogram I made a few weeks back.  And if you want to make one yourself, here is a link to the tutorial by the oh so fabulous Jana Paddington on the Scrapbook Steals blog.

So, we have a total of 6 project (4 cards, 1 onesie, and 1 monogram) bringing our grand total to 101 PROJECTS!!!!  

Thanks so much for following along and encouraging me to craft my way through this goal.  I'll probably restart a similar challenge once we get settled back in California for the next few months.  I still have way too much paper.  :)

As always, thanks for stopping by!!